MEAN STREET RIDERS: SOUTHERN ROCK DONE RIGHT

Photo by Michael Loftis

Mean Street Riders: Southern Rock Done Right

Dowlin Mayfield :Guitars/Vocals
Kevin Lacour: Drums/Vocals
Gregg Torres: Keyboards/Vocals
Eric Lampley: Bass/Vocals
Shannon Wallace: Guitars/Volcals

Mean Street Riders New Album: “HIGH ON THE HOG” is due to be released June of 2011.

If you’ve spent any time on social media sites such as FaceBook and Twitter, you’ve no doubt seen something about Mean Street Riders.  I’ve seen them on FaceBook for about a year, but I’d never heard their music, nor had I met anyone who had.  All that changed when I announced I was going to be in Daytona Beach, Florida for Bike Week. 

Mean Street Mary (their publicist) contacted me as I was leaving Daytona Beach for my home in Tennessee. She wanted to meet up.  Alas, my bike was packed for the home stretch and I couldn’t leave it alone in a parking lot.   Mary kept in contact with me, texting me regarding an offer I couldn’t refuse. She wanted to forward to me an advance copy of the debut album from the Mean Street Riders.  She was true to her word and in short order, I soon had a copy of their new album “HIGH ON THE HOG” in my hot little hands.

I plugged the CD into my laptop with my earphones snuggled on my head.   I decided to listen to the album before reading anything regarding their background from the press kit.  I do this so I won’t have any expectations about the group other than to be entertained by fresh sounds and lyrics. 

As each new track was laid bare to my listening ears, I found my interest in this band growing.  I realized their music reminded me of a band from my youth: “Pure Prairie League”, but the musical comparisons didn’t end there.  I also heard influences from Jackson Browne, Allman Brothers Band, ZZ Top and Shooter Jennings.

I’m not sure if all the instruments I heard on the album is played by the boys in the band, or if they are generated by computerized gadgets, right now I don’t think it matters. If the strings (mandolins and violins) sound like they are generated from the real thing, then what’s more to say?

Every song on this album holds feelings, memories and sounds we as bikers will relate to. As I listen to “Living High on the Hog”, I am transported to the days we could hear the Allman Brothers Band on the radio. The lead guitar, the driving beat of the drummer and the rhythm section of the band all kept my body moving: recalling how my motorcycle allows me feel when I ride her!

“I’ve Had a Good Ride” is a track on the album that really speaks to me.  The first strains of guitar remind me of Chris Isaak. Those strains soon fade away and are replaced by banjo picking.  Now I’m listening to the sounds of Pure Prairie League, except it’s not.  It’s a unique sound, a blending of Chris and the League.  It’s a song of pure riding joy, of what’s in the wind. It translates into words all the wonders of motorcycling.  Yes boys and girls “I’ve Had a Good Ride”.   

The track, “Rollin’ On” opens with the ghostly sounds of Native American chanting. It speaks of the “dark side” of motorcycling.  Yes, we’ve all been there, or at least we have all experienced that “OH SHIT” moment, where our hearts race and our minds run ahead of our bodies: looking for a way out of danger. It’s a beautiful song about a dark time we all face when we ride.  The vocals are smooth and pleasant, “We’re gonna ride like that wind through the pain”   wow, strong and evocative phrasing. Combine this with the ghost chanting and your left with quite a haunting feeling of calm and peace.  I like how the music quiets the “oh shit” moment.  Perhaps that’s what it’s like.  I’d like to think so.  

Then there is “Long Road of Love”.  This song should be my theme song. “Appalachian back roads: I love the freedom I call my own.”  Mandolins strumming, banjos picking, hard rocking lead guitars, the beautiful vocals mixed so smoothly: I just want to sit on my porch and sip some fine Tennessee whiskey as I listen to the music.  This song is me.  The words “I love the South Land, I love my home…” bring huge wells of pride swelling up inside me. These boys have taken all the words, all the feelings inside me and found a way to bring them to everyone else all around me; they’ve said it better than I ever could.   

MEAN STREET RIDERS in their debut album have created music that will haunt your soul.  The boys have taken the feeling of riding and translated it to harmonies, strung chords, picked strings and driving compression. It won’t touch everyone.  Nothing touches all people the same way, but for most riders, you will find a connection with one or more of the songs on “HIGH ON THE HOG”. 

I enjoy the album and I will be looking for them at the biker venues along my travels. I want to hear more.  Main Street Riders understand the heart of the biker’s soul.

If you’d like to listen to excerpts of Mean Street Riders new album “HIGH ON THE HOG” check out their web site at: http://meanstreetriders.com/index.html

My Nolan Helmet ROCKS ME!

I shall preface this document with the following statement:  As a rider of 40 years, I’ve not been a fan of helmets.  That is until I was involved in a slow speed accident where I knocked my noggin on the road surface and continued to roll like a bowling ball for 80 feet down the pavement.  When my brain became cogent of what had occurred: I realized how lucky I was. That was four years ago.

I asked  people I communicate with on Twitter, “What do you recommend for a helmet?”  Many answered “GO WITH NOLAN”. 

• Ready for N-COM communication system
• 6-in-1 crossover helmet design with quick-change accessories allows for customized look and functions for every ride
• Includes clear shield, integrated sun shield, peak and removable chin bar
• GE Lexan chin bar is EPS lined; mounted with strong stainless-steel latches, it passes the tests for full face helmets of the European standard ECE-2205
• Removable and washable liner is antibacterial, antifungal, and wicking
• Quick-change shield is optically correct and fitted in an exceptionally large eye port. It accepts the Pinlock anti-fog insert (sold separately)
• Microlock® (adjustable quick-release) retention chinstrap system (Microlock chinstrap helmet lock extension available ~ sold separately)
• Top vent with rear exhaust grid and shield vent
• "Outlaw" versions of Nolan Helmets include a sleeker look that excludes any Nolan logos, otherwise this helmet is identical to other N43 helmets
• DOT approved
• Helmet Weight: 3 lbs. 7-3/4 oz. (1579g)  

The Nolan is a company based in Italy.  Founded in 1972, their ability to thrive is based on their unique technical and production skills as well as their dedication to innovation.  At least that’s what I’ve read.  When I see riders like Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner (both MotoGP riders) wearing the Nolan helmet, I have to realize there are some convincing technologies that have made their way into my new helmet.

The day the Nolan Helmet arrived I was pleasantly surprised. How is it possible to weigh less than my half shell helmet? It does indeed weigh less, and somehow feels less clumsy in my hands.

The next day I put the helmet on my head (only after carefully reading the instructions.) I tested it in some fairly harsh conditions. The vestiges of a hurricane were passing though the area.  The deluge of heavy precipitation would test what I thought to be the limits of my kind of weather riding.  I was very surprised at the lack of fogging that occurred on the inside of the visor.  There was some, but it didn’t drift into my field of vision.

One of the many excuses I have used over the years to disclaim full helmet use was my experience with the old style helmets and their propensity to limit peripheral view.  I had no such problems with this helmet. I in fact felt I had a better side view in this helmet than in my half shell.

The top vent on the Nolan N43 helmet works very well. I forgot to close it on my rainy day ride, causing my scalp to feel quite chilled. Once I located it on the top of my helmet while riding, it was a simply matter of moving the lever to close it. My head warmed up right away and I was quite comfortable. 

The next day I tested the helmet in sunny and warm conditions. Here, I was using the sun visor. Switching between the sun visor and the Lexon face shield was as simple as pushing a slide to retract the sun visor into the shell.  The slide is easily operated with my gloved hand. 

As I rode on the 2^nd day, I realized there was much less wind drag on my head with the Nolan than with my half shell. That alone is worth high praise from me. As a high mileage rider, I find anything reducing fatigue to be worth its weight in gold.

The chin guard is easily removed by latches on both sides of the helmet located near the mid jaw line.  If the need ever arises it is a quick disconnect and the helmet can be safely removed with less injury to the neck. I’m impressed. 

The Nolan N43 is also equipped to be wired with the Nolan NCom system.  I have a slightly different Blue Tooth motorcycle communication system.  I’ve found my system will work within their design, but it’s really not as “clean” as their own communication system.  When the funds permit, I will be switching over to Nolan’s blue tooth communications arrangement. 

In conclusion, I quite like my Nolan N43 Trilogy Outlaw helmet.  It’s so light. It’s very aero-dynamic, its clear visor and smoked sun visor are easily put into use.  The chin guard is one heck of a cool innovation, allowing the rider to make his/her own choice as to the style of helmet we care to entrust our heads and necks with.  The com integration center is easy to use and quite the bonus to the riders who like to have music, phone, and navigation electronics integrated into one simple design. As a newly converted full helmet user, I’m convinced I will be wearing a Nolan on my incredibly round Charlie Brown head for a very long time. 

Thanks Nolan  Helmets…for giving me a feeling of safety and security that I  have lacked for An exceedingly long time!